The hospital was constructed in 8 days by 400 civilian personnel, 500 clinical staff and military personnel to a cost of £66.4 million. It was announced as operational on 10 April 2020, and was initially scheduled to receive its first patients on 12 April. It was formally opened by
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, via remote video link, on 16 April. It was intended to support 23 Midlands hospitals by taking patients who were convalescing from having COVID-19, patients who are required less intensive treatment, and patients who needed
palliative care. The hospital occupied halls 8–12 and 16 of the NEC, connected via the Atrium. It had 496 beds divided into four wards from day one, with the option to expand to 800 immediately if needed. A plan for a second phase was envisaged that would have brought the number of beds in use up to 2,000, however this was never necessary. The hospital never treated any patients due to existing hospitals being able to absorb the increased demand. It closed on 1 April 2021, less than a year after opening. ==Personnel==